Extensible tool carrying implement



Se t. 29,1970 w. J. ROHDE 3,531,143

EXTENSIBLE TOOL CARRYING IMPLEMENT Filed Dec. 11, 1968 v INVENTOR. W/A /AM J 190%;

- ,l iwj/ v BY I ATTORNEYS United States Patent EXTENSIBLE TOOL CARRYING IMPLEMENT William J. Rohde, Sycamore, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Olin Corporation, Stamford, Conn., a

corporation of Virginia Filed Dec. 11, 1968, Ser. No. 783,055 Int. Cl. B65g 7/12 U.S. Cl. 294-26 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An extensible implement of a series of inner and outer nesting coaxial elongated elements includes an extension member having a connector on one end telescopically received within a body member having positive locking means at both ends thereof alternately detachably connectible to said connector whereby a positive locked connection between the elements in either an extended or retracted position is made possible.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention generally relates to hand-held implements and more particularly to an extensible implement comprising one or more inner and outer nestable components having multiple positive connection locking means thereon to allow selective positive fixation of the implement in either an extended or a retracted position. A utilitarian device such as a tool or a galf hook may be integral with or fixed to one or more of the components.

Description of the prior art While the general concept of extensibility of implements and tools has been previously considered by others, no one to my knowledge has conceived of a general utility extensible implement with multiple positive twist-on and twist-oil locking means for both the extended and the retracted positions. Thus, for example, it is known to provide a friction fit between extensible members tapered from one end to the other to hold them in their extended positions. External container-type means hold 'the members in their fully retracted positions. This friction fit may be adequate where the main force of the members is transverse to the axis of the members, however Where an axial compressive force is encountered, this friction fit is inadequate against telescopic collapse.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above-noted disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by my invention of an extensible tool holding implement, which is illustrated herein as embodied in an adjustable gaff hook wherein an extension member having a gaff tool integrally formed therewith at one end and a connector at the other end is received within a hollow body member. The body is of elongated tubular stock having a head end with a hole therethrough receiving the extension member and a closed butt end. More particularly, the head end includes a head closure portion that functions as a support guide for the extension member and an extended connector means with a threaded recess therein adapted to receive an extension head connector on the extension member. The butt end of the body includes a retracted butt connector and may further include handle means or related elements.

The extension member connector end is adapted to slide within the body member for alternate positive cooperation with either the extended connector means or the retracted butt connector means. In accordance with the principles of our invention, this cooperation is a Patented Sept. 29, 1970 threaded connection wherein a pair of oppositely directed threaded male extension head connectors engage threaded female members at the head and butt ends of the body. It is understood, of course, that my inventive concept may be applied to extensible implements having a greater number of extensible components. In such cases a series of first, second, third, etc., body members are provided, all but the last of which is provided With connector ends similar to those described in connection with the extension member.

The advantages of my invention over the prior art are numerous. Initially, it may be seen that a positive connection is provided with the extension member in either an extended or a retracted position. Thus, in the case as illustrated, Where the tool carried by the implement is a gaff hook, both the retracted and extended implement will give equal reliability. When the guide portion of the extension member connector end is formed in close-fitting relationship to the interior dimensions of the body in the area of either end, the forces in the tool and extension member are transmitted to the body uniformly and through a large area by the guide portion. This uniformity of force distribution provides a great strength to weight ratio for the implement. With the implement in its retracted position, the guide portion and the head closure portion cooperate to provide a very strong, rigid and balanced instrument. With the implement in its extended position, the head closure portion and the guide portions again cooperate in the area of greatest stress for a rigid and well-balanced feel. These and other advantages will become more readily apparent in the details hereinafter set out.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional elevational view of the implement of our invention in retracted position cooperating with a gaff hook tool; and

FIG. 2 is another view of the implement of FIG. 1 only in its extended position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A body 10 generally taking the configuration of a hollow tubular member is shown in FIG. 1 receiving an extension member 20. The body member 10 has a head closure portion 12 at one end and a butt end closure 16 at the other end. A hole 13 generally coaxial with the body member 10 extends through the head closure portion 12. A recess 14 on the inner side of the head closure portion 12 may carry threads 15 which will cooperate with the male extension head connector of the member 20. The head closure portion 12 may be attached to the body 10 by suitable means such as the rivets 12' illustrated.

The butt end closure 16 may be formed to conform to the cross-section of the body 10 and is attached thereto by a rivet 16. An inwardly facing recess 17 is threaded for engagement with a male threaded retracted butt connector means 22 on the guide portion 24 of the extension member 20. The guide portion 24 has a threaded male extension head connector 26 on the opposite end which is adapted to threadedly engage the recess 14 when the implement is in its extended condition as is shown in FIG. 2.

The particular connector means shown embodies a guide portion which may rotate on the inside of the body 10 to disengage a screw-threaded connector means. Rotation is allowed by making the extension member 20 of uniform circular cross-section along its length and making the opening 13 conform thereto. When quarter lead threads are employed, the respective locking and unlocking action may be accomplished with only a single turn between the body and the extension member 20. If fine continuous threads are used, more turns will be required. I have found it convenient to make the threaded male extension head connector 26 of a diameter larger than the diameter of the extension member 20. The retracted butt connector means 22 may be made of a diameter substantially the same as that of the extension rod 20.

A knob 19 or other handle, carrying, or tool means may be provided on the butt end in accordance with the tool being used. The tool means 30 is attached to the extension member 20 at its tool carrying end 28. In the case of the gaff hook shown, the tool means 30 is formed integral with the extension member 20. However, it is to be understood that the tool need not be integral. Actually, the term tool is used here in its generic sense to include any utilitarian means for accomplishing a particular result and thus could be applied to tent poles or to other sporting appliances such as a fishing net or a golf ball retriever. I have found the two-element construction to be particularly well adapted to the illustrative gaff hook embodiment, however it is contemplated that for other uses a greater number of telescoping elements embodying the principles of my invention may be used. In the case of a gaff hook as shown, it is necessary that the connection either in the retracted or extended position be positive at all times so that when it is used to board a fish, for example, the user can be sure of rigid control and definite pull. In this case also, the ready conversion from the retracted to the elongated position may be quickly and accurately made by the user in response to changing conditions.

Changing from the retracted position as shown in FIG. 1 to the extended position as is shown in FIG. 2 is quickly accomplished by grasping the tool and turning it in a direction to unscrew the retracted butt connector means 22 from the threaded cavity 17, extending the member 20 until the threaded male extension head connector 26 butts against the recess 14 in the head closure portion and then turning the tool in the extension member 20 to screw the connector 26 into the recess 14. As may be seen in FIG. 2, this threaded connection provides a great deal of rigidity between the extension member 20 and the body 10 and distributes transverse forces from the tool carrying end 28 to the body and butt end uniformly over the length of the opening 13 in the head closure portion 12 and the length of the guide portion 24. In practice, I have found this extended connection to be extremely effective in transmitting columnar forces making my implement readily adaptable to uses where there are axial forces to be transmitted. The retracted connection as shown in FIG. 1 also provides great rigidity with the extension member 20 being firmly held at one end over the length of the opening 13 and having its connector end secured against axial or transverse movement by the connector means 22 and the guide portion 24. The actual length of the opening 13 and the guide portion 24 is based upon the factors of the type and thickness of the material employed and the design load for the implement and therefore the length must be sufficient to provide rigidity and high columnar strength between the elements.

Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

What I claim is:

1. An extensible implement comprising a first hollow body member having a head end and a butt end, said head and butt ends each having a connector means, an extension member receivable within said body member, said extension member having a positive connector end and a tool supporting end, said connector end being received within said body member and movable between said head and said butt ends and being alternately detachably connected to either said head or said butt ends whereby said implement is positively locked in either a retracted or extended position, said connector end being detachably connected to either said head or said butt ends by means of a threaded male connector on said connector end which alternately engages threaded recesses at the head or butt ends, said body member being of an elongated tubular structure with said extension member being in coaxial nestable relationship to said body member, said extension member being rotatable in said body member to effect said detachable connection.

2. An extensible implement according to claim 1 wherein said connector end of said extension member includes a guide member conforming to the interior dimensions of said tubular body member and being rotatable therein, said body member head end including a head closure portion having an opening therethrough, said extension member being of a generally uniform cross section and of a diameter conformingly and slidably received in said opening of said head closure portion, said head closure portion opening and said guide portion being of a length to provide rigidity and high columnar strength through their joint when the implement is in both its extended and retracted positions.

3. An extensible element according to claim 2 wherein said extension member has an integrally formed gaff hook at its tool supporting end.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 889,088 5/1908 Baillargeon 294-l9 X 1,185,732 6/1916 Swayne 29419 X 2,163,212 6/1939 Reddick 287117 X 2,586,245 2/1952 McRae 294-26 2,595,597 5/1952 Morseth 4311 X 2,879,065 3/1959 Smith 2738l.2 3,046,044 7/1962 Christle 294l9.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 772,931 4/1957 Great Britain.

EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner D. D. WATTS, Assistant Examiner 

